Blueberry Pear Smoothie //

It’s so funny with the New Year, one instantly feels the need to refresh, tweak a few things around, and try a little harder… for instance with healthier eating. Am I right? I know for me… even without compiling a bunch of resolutions, I ALWAYS have the urge to clean up my act in the eating department, come January! I think I’ve seriously tried it all, you guys. I’ve done an elimination diet, become completely vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free… I’ve even done two back-to-back rounds of the Whole30! Yikes! Sort of crazy…. I know!

Well, this year is really no different. I started off thinking I may attempt 100 days of Real Food with a dear friend of mine, but I’ve already thrown in the towel. Before you feel sorry for my lack of commitment, please know that I don’t plan on eating ding dongs all day {do they still make those?}. Instead, I am just going to do my best. That.Is.All. After all, I think I know what to do at this point… and I’m sort of over following guidelines.

So, with that being said… I picked up this lovely Juice/Smoothie recipe book from Barnes & Noble over the holidays. {It was in the bargain section, which made me like it even more!} It’s a really pretty book… I highly recommend it for the pictures and for recipe inspiration!

Since I had a bunch of ripe pears sitting on my kitchen counter, I decided to try to find a recipe in the book using those. I came across one that used yogurt, pears, blueberries, water and wheatgerm. It sounded pretty good… so I made a few adjustments and came up with my own healthy version. It was super tasty… and the kids enjoyed it, too!

The main ingredients to have on hand are ripe, juicy pears, fresh or frozen blueberries, and a good quality plain Greek yogurt. Additionally, I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk as my base, and added in chia seeds {since they are so incredibly good for you}. A touch of raw honey {an unrefined sweetener} completed the icy cold, nutrient-packed smoothie!

Speaking of nutrients… here are a few quick facts about some of the ingredients I used:

Blueberries // a superfood, packed full of antioxidants that may fight disease and provide brain health.
Pears // a good source of dietary fiber, also containing copper and vitamins C and K.
Chia Seeds // filled with two times more protein than most grains, and five times more calcium than milk. High levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, soluble fiber, potassium, and antioxidants.
Raw Honey // has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties. It promotes body and digestive health and can strengthen the immune system and help to eliminate allergies {if local to your area}.
Greek Yogurt // packed with protein, probiotics, and B12 — which helps provide energy and healthy brain function.

The original recipe called for juicing the pears first… and then adding the pear juice to the rest of the smoothie ingredients in a blender. That seemed like way too much work {and too many appliances to clean}. I’m an either or girl — either juicing, or blending. Definitely not both for one recipe!

So, this is how it turned out… thick, creamy, and completely delicious! {How about that rich purple hue? The smoothie is pretty, too!} The chia seeds plump up as they sit, so it really thickens the drink nicely. I used frozen blueberries and a few pieces of ice, which made the drink perfectly chilled.

The kids and I shared it as a mid-day snack {such a healthy pick-me-up}… but next time, I’m going to make it for breakfast! What a great, nutrient dense way to start your day! I hope you’ll try it and report back!

Print Recipe

Blueberry Pear Smoothie

This smoothie is packed full of super foods! {An awesome way to start the day!} It would also be a delicious afternoon snack, giving you and the kids a healthy pick-me-up!

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Smoothie

Cuisine: Breakfast

Servings: 2

Author: Simply Happenstance {adapted from The Juice Bar cookbook}

Ingredients

2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk chilled
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 ripe pears core and skin removed
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
2 tablespoons raw honey
ice

Instructions

Pour the chilled almond milk into a blender.
Add in the chia seeds and allow to sit for a few minutes {to soak} while you prepare the other ingredients.
Rinse the ripe pears and remove core/skin.
Add all remaining ingredients to the blender: pears, blueberries, Greek yogurt, honey and ice cubes {I used approximately 5}.
Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until creamy and well combined.
Pour into 2 tall glasses and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Cheers to good health, and being the best version of you in twenty-fifteen!